The Marlin Democrat
Fifteenth Year Number 38
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, June 9, 1904
DEFENDS DEMOCRATS.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT: - Referring to the
charge that Bryan and his platform were defeated in 1896 and 1900 by eastern
democrats, and that they are attempting with the money power of New York City,
to reorganize the party and place before the people a platform and candidate
antagonistic to the principles of our party:
I will state that we
were defeated in all sections except the South and the South is today leading
all sections in the movement to make fundamental principles the paramount issue
and Alton B. Parker the standard bearer. At least 90 per cent of the Southern
delegates to St. Louis will vote that way.
Coming together to make common cause against a party
that is stifling every right and principle of government dear to a democrat is
not treason, nor is it reorganization, as some would have it appear. It is
simply fidelity to principles.
Availability is the basis of the wide spread demand for
Judge Parker. He is no more the candidate of the East than that he is the
candidate of the South or other sections. New York City, controlled by the
Tammany organization, resisted instructions for Judge Parker. The Tammany
leaders wanted Grover Cleveland.
The New York State Convention instructed for Judge
Parker but there was no instruction in regard to platform.
The platform adopted is only an expression of the
sentiments of the democrats of New York. If it is not strong enough to
suit all democrats, surely none can say that it is not a step in the right
direction.
The platform "pledges fidelity to the essential
principles of Jeffersonian democrat as repeatedly enunciated in our National and
State platforms."
It declares against usurpation, militaryism,
extravagance, dishonesty in the public service trusts and government partnershis
with protected monoplies.
It declares for: Respect for treaty rights, revision of
the tariff, state rights and impartial maintenance of the rights of labor and of
capital."
The trust plank seems to be the most criticized, It is
as follows:
"Sec. 5. Opposition to trusts and combinations that
oppress th people and stifle healthy industrial competition."
There is no other kind of trust or combination of
capital that can be suppressed by law. Until a trust violates a law or
interferes with the rights of an individual it is protected by constitutional
rights. It is the same with labor organizations, until they interfere with the
rights of others they are within their constitutional rights.
What ever the New York platform may be, there is no
more reason to connect Judge Parker with it than there is reason for charging
him with attempting to dictate the platform to be made at St. Louis.
Judge Parker evidently recognizes that on account of
this availability the democratic party will, at St. Louis make him standard
bearer in this campaign to lit our principles from the dust of defeat and that
any dictation by him would be improper.
FORREST GAITHER.
Chilton, Texas.
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Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.